Radio Ban Sparks Debate of Media Freedom in Cambodia

5 June 2012
The Cambodia Daily
broadcast / Cambodia / censorship / Commune Elections / election / election weekend / F.M. stations / foreign media / Government / international broadcasters / local F.M. stations / Media / Media freedom / Ministry of Information / poll / poll irregularities / Radio / Radio Ban / Radio Free Asia (RFA) / radio stations / RFA / VOA / VOD / Voice of America (VOA) / Voice of Democracy (VOD)

While observers yesterday accused the government of censorship for ordering radio stations not to transmit international broadcasters over the election weekend, a government spokesman defended the move. On Sunday, a Ministry of Information official said the ministry had ordered local F.M. stations not to transmit Voice of America (VOA) or Radio Free Asia (RFA) programs over the weekend for fear that foreign media would influence Sunday’s commune elections. The ministry also intervened to stop a Voice of Democracy (VOD) broadcast on Sunday morning that was reporting irregularities in the poll. …